A FASHION retailer has announced an exciting partnership with retail giant Next to expand into furniture.
Womenswear brand Sosander is stepping into the homewears market through a new licensing agreement and hailed the move as a 'proud moment'.
The online fashion company, based in Wilmslow, was founded in 2016 by Ali Hall and Julie Lavington.
After working in fashion magazines for 20 years, the pair gave up their jobs in London to launch their own range of fashionable, wearable clothing using quality fabrics.
They believed the high street was 'not providing what women wanted to buy'.
The pair said: “We launched Sosandar after hearing the same complaints from women time and time again.
“Women like us who wanted fashion to make them feel simultaneously sexy, feminine and chic.
“Women who wanted sleeves and longer lengths, but couldn’t find them.
“Who wanted flattering dresses that make getting dressed easy, and work for every occasion.
“We understand that you don’t want to wear boring clothes to work, at weekends - or ever.”
Flattering dresses are the brand’s signature, alongside quality leather, luxurious knitwear and casual outfits to feel expensive in.
The pair added: “Each Sosandar design is created in our in-house design studio and produced in limited runs, because no-one wants to wear the same thing as everybody else.
“We make quality clothes you can move in, work in, play in. Oh, and eat, breathe, dance and twirl in too.”
The new deal follows the success of Sosandar’s clothing range sold through Next, one of the largest homeware retailers in the UK.
The partnership will see the company develop a unique range of living room furniture, including sofas, accent chairs, rugs and lighting.
The licensing deal will combine Next's sourcing and quality expertise with Sosandar's design inspiration.
The range of products is to launch in autumn 2025 on the Next website.
Sosandar co-chief executive officers Ali Hall and Julie Lavington said: "It is a proud moment for the Sosandar brand to be licensing through Next, a testament to the strength of what we have built.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to leverage our brand equity and extend the success Sosandar has had through third party partnerships with little risk and no capital expenditure.
"We will combine Next's specialist technical and sourcing skills with our design aesthetic and understanding of Sosandar customers to deliver an exciting and unique product range.
“Importantly, the homeware range will broaden our reach into new audiences and enable existing customers to deepen their affinity to our brand."
Sosander launched its first two stores this year and plans to open up to 50 stores over the next three to five years.
The brand is targeting affluent market towns with thriving high streets.
The company's dresses are worn by television presenters Fearne Cotton and Holly Willoughby.
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